ILLINOIS — A major step to reduce prescription drug prices in Illinois is now headed to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after lawmakers passed the Prescription Drug Affordability Act with overwhelming support.
The bill cleared the Senate with a 56–1 vote and the House with a 115–1 vote, signaling rare bipartisan agreement on healthcare affordability reforms.
What the Bill Will Change
The legislation targets pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who act as intermediaries between drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Under current practices, PBMs often use “spread pricing” — where they pay pharmacies one price for a medication but charge a higher amount to insurers, keeping the difference as profit.
The new law bans spread pricing and aims to ensure that patients and independent pharmacies are not caught in the middle of pricing games.
“This is all an attempt to take that middleman profit out of the system and make this more between the patient and the doctor,” said State Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) in a statement to 25News.
How Small Pharmacies Benefit
In addition to banning spread pricing, the bill also prohibits PBMs from steering patients toward specific pharmacies — a practice that favors corporate chains over smaller, local businesses.
“It helps small pharmacies because it also bans steering,” Koehler said. “PBMs, who are sometimes vertically integrated with drug stores, can’t push patients toward their own stores anymore.”
Next Steps: Governor’s Signature
Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to sign the measure into law. Once signed, it will be among the most aggressive state-level laws in the country focused on prescription drug pricing reform.
The move comes amid growing public pressure to lower medication costs and protect local pharmacies from being squeezed out by larger pharmacy benefit networks.
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